Gupton v. Carr

125 S.W. 849, 147 Mo. App. 105, 1910 Mo. App. LEXIS 538
CourtMissouri Court of Appeals
DecidedFebruary 1, 1910
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 125 S.W. 849 (Gupton v. Carr) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Missouri Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Gupton v. Carr, 125 S.W. 849, 147 Mo. App. 105, 1910 Mo. App. LEXIS 538 (Mo. Ct. App. 1910).

Opinion

REYNOLDS, P. J.

(after stating the facts).— In the brief and argument of the learned counsel for the respondent, submitted to us when this case was heard at bar, those counsel have said that it is conceded “that the sole and only question for this court to determine is whether under the facts stated, the appellant is entitled to a commission of five per cent on the sum of $37,687.55 which he paid unto the two hundred and thirteen depositors of the Exchange Bank of Jonesburg. Respondent however denies that the executor is entitled to any such commission on said sum, and her objections thereto may be summarized as follows:

“First. That the probate court had no jurisdiction to wind up the affairs of the Exchange Bank of Jones-burg; and, second, That if it did have jurisdiction, before the executor is entitled to a commission on demands paid, the creditor of the estate must have his demand duly allowed, adjudicated and classified by the probate court.”

Counsel then argues, first, that on sections 1298 to 1303, Revised Statutes 1899 (the Banking Law), the probate court had no jurisdiction over the funds in the bank. As their second proposition, they argued that the executor is not entitled to any commissions on the bank hinds paid out, because the demands against the bank, evidenced by the checks, were not presented to [116]*116and allowed by tbe probate court. These practically follow tbe exceptions lodged in tbe probate court..

Referring to tbe paper read in evidence and wbicb we bave copied in our statement, that is tbe agreement between Mrs. Carr and tbe executor, counsel, in this first brief and argument, say that it should not bave been admitted because “foreign to the question of tbe right of tbe executor to retain a commission. Had respondent excepted to the credits claimed by tbe executor by reason of bis having paid tbe depositors, the paper then would become relevant. But in this proceeding tbe paper throws no light upon tbe issues. At most it merely- protected tbe executor by reason of paying tbe depositors; but it could convey no jurisdiction upon tbe probate court, if tbe court bad none.” We call attention to these arguments and solemn admissions of counsel for tbe respondent, lawyers learned in tbe law, in order to emphasize exactly what issues were before tbe probate court and tbe circuit court and brought to us, as those issues were defined by counsel themselves in their printed brief as well as by oral argument. For, having obtained leave to file a supplemental brief, with that before us, we are obliged to say that they now attempt a departure from tbe issues wbicb they bave so distinctly avowed were tbe issues in both of tbe courts of first instance. In this supplemental argument and brief, filed with us after submission of tbe case, counsel for respondent for tbe first time advance this position: That “where an executor voluntarily, before final settlement, pays a legatee or creditor more money than would be due such legatee or creditor on final settlement, tbe loss must fall on tbe executor,” and in support of this position it is said that in reviewing this settlement, this court will determine tbe issue as though it was sitting as a probate court, and that tbe record shows that tbe executor voluntarily paid this legatee five thousand dollars; that when be made bis annual settlement there was a balance in his bands amounting [117]*117to $1946.61;. that be made no claims for commissions on amounts paid depositors in Ms annual settlement, but in Ms final settlement be claims a balance due bim from Mrs. Carr to complete bis settlement, of $1000.40, and it is submitted that the probate court has no jurisdiction to render any judgment against the exceptor, Mrs. Carr, compelling her to pay back this $1000.40, or any other sum to the executor. In effect, that it was a voluntary payment by the executor, which counsel assert the court has no power to compel the legatee to refund.

Before entering upon a discussion of the case arising upon the exceptions, we will dispose of all the above by remarking that it is not within the exceptions, which, in a case of this character and class, may be called the petition which states the cause of action. No such issue was before either of the courts of first instance, and this court is not one of original jurisdiction, in cases of this class, and can and will determine only such issues as were before the trial courts. We have no power, even if we had the disposition, which we have not, to go outside of those issues and give any consideration whatever to this so manifest afterthought.

Returning now to the case as presented by the exceptions and taking up the first objection, which rests on the proposition that the probate court had no jurisdiction to administer on $37,657.55, the amount of the assets in the bank, which were due to the depositors or creditors of the bank, but could only administer on whát remained of the bank assets after payment of these claims, we hold that the objection is not tenable. The death of Mr. Purl occurring in 1905, and the administration of his estate falling in between then and December 28, 1906, the banking law as in force prior to January 15, 1909, when the new law of March 18, 1907, took effect (Laws 1907, pp. 124,150), is to be applied. Our statute, chapter 12, of article 8, Revised Statutes 1899, referring to it as in force before the adoption of the new chapter in 1907, [118]*118provides for the regulation of banks, section 1299 being amended by Act of March 24, 1903. Section 1301 applied all the provisions of the article to private bankers, the latter section distinctly providing that the provisions of the article shall apply to the private banker, “so far as the same are applicable.” Section 1304, before the law of 1907, gave the Secretary of State visitorial right of examination, and section 1305 provided for the winding up of the affairs of a bank when the conditions set out in that section occur.

In Clifford Banking Co. v. Donovan Com. Co., 195 Mo. 262, 94 S. W. 527, our Supreme Court held that this section 1305 had no application whatever to the settlement of the affairs of a banking corporation which is solvent at the time its existence terminates by the limitation of its charter. In this Clifford Banking Company case, the charter had expired and the affairs of the hank were taken in charge by the members of the last board of directors of the concern as trustees, they being such under the general statute relating to the winding up of corporations whose charters have expired by the last board of directors, they acting in liquidation as trustees.

. In the later case of State ex rel. Hadley, Attorney-General, v. People’s United States Bank, 197 Mo. 574, 94 S. W. 953, it is reiterated that the Secretary of State has no power to take upon himself the administration of the affairs of a bank, organized under the laws of the state, save in case of insolvency, as insolvency is defined by statute. True, both of these cases were incorporated banks, but this section here construed is the only law giving any authority to the Secretary of State to proceed against any hank.

The. evidence in this case shows, beyond room for cavil, that the private bank, known as the Exchange Bank, owned by Mr. Purl, was at the date of his death and taking over of the assets thereof by the executor of his will, entirely solvent.

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Bluebook (online)
125 S.W. 849, 147 Mo. App. 105, 1910 Mo. App. LEXIS 538, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/gupton-v-carr-moctapp-1910.